Container having controlled access to the interior thereof

ABSTRACT

A container having a housing enclosing an interior compartment and having a pair of entrance openings communicating with the compartment; a pair of closures individual to the openings mounted on the housing for movement to and from closed positions in covering relation to their respective openings; and a pair of locks, responsive to preselected stimuli, individual to the closures and operable for locking engagement with the housing when their respective closures are in closed positions.

United States Patent (191 Andrade et a1.

[ CONTAINER HAVING CONTROLLED ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR THEREOF [76]Inventors: Eugen J. Andrade, 7511 W.

Doverwood Ave, Fresno, Calif. 93705; Eugene J. Andrade, 151 1 W.Doverglood Ave.

[22] Filed: Aug. 29, 1974 [21] Appl. N0.: 501,815

232/43.4 [51] Int. Cl. B65D 55/14 [58] Field of Search 220/200, 210, 18,336,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,755,748 7/1956 Abell, .Ir.109/52 Dec. 23, 1975 Voitas et al 220/336 X Van lperen 215/207 PrimaryExaminerGeorge T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or FirmHuebner & Worrel [57]ABSTRACT A container having a housing enclosing an interior compartmentand having a pair of entrance openings communicating with thecompartment; a pair of closures individual to the openings mounted onthe housing for movement to and from closed positions in coveringrelation to their respective openings; and a pair of locks, responsiveto preselected stimuli, individual to the closures and operable forlocking engagement with the housing when their respective closures arein closed positions.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 CONTAINER HAVINGCONTROLLED ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a container and more particularly tosuch a container which is adapted for use at construction sites toprevent the theft of blueprints, building plans and the like whilemaking such articles available to both building inspectors andconstruction supervisors at their convenience by the use of lockingmechanisms responsive to reselected stimuli.

State and local building codes commonly require frequent periodicinspection and approval by govemment building inspectors of public andprivate construction, with reference to the building plans, at varioussuccessive stages before construction is permitted to continue to thenext stage. Since building inspectors must normally inspect constructionfor approval at a plurality of construction sites during a given dayunavoidably resulting in delays, it is difficult for constructionsupervisors and the building inspectors to arrange specific dates andtimes on which the building plans will be made available for suchinspection and approval.

This difficulty is compounded by the fact that construction supervisors,engineers and other supervisory personnel must have ready access to theconstruction plans. Yet, such supervisory personnel are frequentlyrequired to be present at a number of construction sites at varioustimes during a given day. Because of the demands upon such personnel, itis difficult or impossible for a reliable time schedule to be arrangedfor meetings with building inspectors to make such plans available.Thus, frequently building inspectors arrive at a construction site, arenot able to locate the plans and so must leave without providing therequired approval. The delays resulting from such circumstances are notonly aggravating but also expensive disrupting times schedules anddetracting from the efficient use of per sonnel.

In view of these difficulties, often such building plans, blueprints andthe like are simply hidden at construction sites when the supervisorypersonnel are required to leave the site. This makes the plans difficultfor building inspectors to locate and yet frequently results in thetheft of such plans thereby interfering with construction at the sites.

Therefore, it has long been recognized that it would be desirable tohave the capability of preserving building plans, blueprints and thelike at construction sites against theft while making such plansavailable for use by building inspectors and supervisory personnel atseparate and individually convenient times so as to preclude delay as aresult of obtaining the required approval of construction by buildinginspectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a container having controlled access to theinterior thereof.

Another object is to provide such a container which is operable toinsure that no unnecessary delays are encountered in obtaining theapproval, required by building codes, of construction by buildinginspectors at construction sites.

Another object is to provide such a container which can be employed toprevent the theft of building plans, blueprints and the like fromconstruction sites.

Another object is to provide such a container which has one entranceadapted for use by building inspectors and another entrance adapted foruse by supervisory personnel.

Another object is to provide such a container which uses a pair oflocking mechanisms operable by separate and distinct stimuli to providea degree of control over access to the interior of the container notheretofore available in prior art devices.

Another object is to provide such a container which can be adapted tomount a variety of types of locking mechanisms such as those operable bykeys, combinations dials, pass cards and other stimuli.

Anoter object is to provide such a container which permits all buildinginspectors in a given locality to be issued identical keys capable ofopening corresponding entrances of all such containers at constructionsites.

Another object is to provide such a container which permits the use bysupervisory personnel of virtually any lock for sealing the entrance tothe container adapted for their use so as to provide a breadth ofcontrol over what persons, other than building inspectors, are permittedaccess to the interior of the container.

Another object is to provide such a container which can be mounted onany available structure at a construction site in an area of readyvisibility for identification by building inspectors and supervisorypersonnel and which is sealed to preclude the damage or destruction ofthe contents thereof as a result of inclement weather conditions.

A further object is to provide such a container which is of suchconstruction as to permit repeated use at various construction siteswithout modification.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which isdependable, economical, durable and fully effective in accomplishing itsintended purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thecontainer embodying the principles of the present invention mounted on asupporting member fragmentarily shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectionof the container.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken at a position indicatedby line 3--3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken at a positionindicated by line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring with greaterparticularity to the drawing, the container of the present invention isgenerally indicatcd by the numeral I0 in FIG. I. The container is showntherein attached to the structural member II. The member can be anysuitable and convenient struc ture, such as a post, stud, or the likewhich is in position at the construction site.

The container I0 has an elongated tubular housing 15, having oppositeends 16, and is constructed of any suitable substance such as metal,plastic or the like. The housing has an exterior surface I7 and aninterior surface 18 enclosing an interior compartment, or chamber I9 forthe container. The housing is formed so that one opposite endcircumscribes a first entrance, or access opening 20 and the otheropposite end circum scribes a second entrance, or access opening 21. Thehousing can, ofcourse, be of any convenient size. How ever. a length anddiameter convenient for the insertion of standard size blueprints,building plans and the like is preferred.

The opposite end 16 circumscribing the second access opening 21 isinwardly bent to form an annular flange 26. An annular seal 27 isaffixed to the end wardly facing surface of the flange. An annular seal28 is secured on the interior surface 18 of the housing concentricthereto and endwardly spaced from the opposite end 16. A stop 29 isfastened on the interior surface 18 of the housing at a predeterminedposition adjacent to seal 28, as shown in FIG. 2.

A pair of pivotally interconnected hinge plates 35 and 36 are mounted onthe exterior surface 17 of the opposite end 16 of the housing 15adjacent to the first access opening opposite the stop 29. Hinge plate36 mounts a first closure or door 37 having a diameter adapted forreceipt within the first access opening in sealing engagement with theannular seal 28. Hinge plate is mounted on the housing and hinge plate36 on the door by rivets 38.

A suitable locking assembly 39 is mounted on and extended through thedoor adjacent to the periphery thereof opposite the hinge plates. Thelock assembly mounts a catch 40 operable for locking engagement with thestop 29, as best shown in FIG. 2. It will be apparent that the specificlocking assembly employed can be of any type designed for operation byvirtually any preselected stimulus. For example, those lockingassemblies operable by stimuli such as keys, combination dials, passcards and the like can be employed. However, the locking assembly ispreferably of the type adapted to receive a key 41, having asubstantially cylindrical insertion portion 42 with projections 43 so asto make more difficult the picking of the locking assembly or thecopying of the key.

A pair of pivotally interconnected hinge plates 45 and 46 are mounted onthe exterior surface 17 of the tubular housing 15' at the opposite end16 thereof circumscribing the second access opening 21. Hinge plate 46mounts a second closure or door 47 adapted to abut the annular seal 27borne by the flange 26, when the door is in a closed position, as shownin FIG. 2. The hinge plate 45 is mounted on the housng and the hingeplate 46 mounted on the door by suitble rivets 48. A flange 49integrally extends in coplanar relation from the periphery of the door47 remote from the hinge plates. An angled bracket 50 is mounted byrivets 51 on the housing opposite the hinge plates 45 and 46 so as to bedisposed in juxtaposition with the flange 49 when the door is in aclosed position, as best shown in FIG. 2. The flange and bracket arepierced by block receiving passages 52 and 53 respectively which areaxially aligned when the door is in the closed position, As shown inFIG. 2, a suitable padlock 54 is received in locked relation extendedthrough the passages.

The container 10 is adapted to be mounted on the structural member I] bya mounting assembly 60. The mounting assembly has a base plate 61,having opposite ends 62, secured on the exterior surface 17 of thetubular housing 15 substantially centrally thereof by rivets 63 with theopposite ends individually extending toward the opposite ends 16 of thehousing 15. A hinged angle bracket 64 is pivotally mounted on one end ofthe base plate. The bracket has a nail hole 65 extending therethroughand a slot 66, of predetermined size and position, extending through theremote end thereof. A hinge plate 67 is pivotally mounted on theopposite end 62 of the base plate and has an endwardly extending tongue68 adapted for insertion in the slot 66 of the angle bracket. The tonguehas a lock receiving passage 69 extending therethrough and is adapted toreceive a suitable padlock 70. As best shown in FIG. 3, the mountingassembly is adapted to be secured on the structural member 11 by thedriving of a nail 71 through the nail hole 65 to support the mountingassembly and attached tubular housing 15 on the structural member.

OPERATION The operation of the described embodiment of the subjectinvention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarizedat this point. As previously noted, the container 10 is mounted on anysuitable structural member 11 at a construction site. Preferably, astructural member is selected which is readily visible to anyone comingonto the site. The container is moutned so as to be substantiallyimmovable and is of a configuration preventing the mounting assembly 60from simple being slidably removed once mounted in position. Thus, thestud of a wall under construction is excellently suited for the purpose.Preferably, a member is selected which is of a size adapted to be snuglyfitted within the mounting assembly. However, if no such structuralmember is available a suitable object 72, such as a block of wood, canbe inserted between the base plate 61 of the assembly and the structuralmember 11 so as to provide such a snug fit.

The assembly 60 is, of course, mounted on the member 11 by simplypivotally separating the angle bracket and binge plate 64 and 67respectively by removal of the tongue 68 from the slot 66 to admit thestructural member therebetween and thereafter reinserting the tongue inthe slot. The bracket and plate are then again locked in engagement byinsertion of the padlock 70 through the passage 69 of the tongue. A nail71 may be driven through the nail hole 65 of the bracket and into themember so as vertically to support the assembly and tubular housing 15on the member, as shown in FIG. 1.

Thereafter the container 10 is simply left in position at theconstruction site during all phases of construction for use as needed.When supervisory personnel leave the construction site, the blueprints,construction plans, and the like are inserted in the interior 19 of thehousing 15. This is accomplished by unlocking the padlock 54 to permitopening of the second door 47 for insertion of the plans. Subsequently,the door is simply repositioned in the closed position and locked usingthe padlock.

Subsequently, a building inspector is free to come to the constructionsite at his convenience and without the necessity of a prearranged timefor inspection and approval of construction to that stage. The firstdoor 37' is opened by insertion of the key 41 into the locking assembly39 to pivot the catch 40 past the stop 29 to permit opening of the firstdoor. The construction plans are then simply withdrawn from the interior19 of the housing 15 for inspection and approval. Subsqucntly the plansare reinserted in the interior of the housing and the locking assemblyagain employed in combination with the key to lock the first door in theclosed position shown in PK]. 2.

It should be noted that the most practical and convenient method forusing the containers of the present invention calls for the issuance ofidentical keys to all building inspectors in a given locality and theuse of identical locking assemblies 39, operable only by that key, onall such containers. Thus, building inspectors do not have to maintain aplurality of keys and confusion as to which keys are to be used isavoided.

Since the padlocks 54 and 70 can be selected at the preference of thesupervisory personnel, the personnel maintain control over admission tothe interior of the container by other than building inspectors as wellas control over removal of the container from the structural member 11.

Although such containers 10 may be exposed to adverse weather conditionsin use, the annular seals 27 and 28 provide substantially fluid-tightsealing of the containers. Thus, construction plans are preservedagainst water damage while in the containers.

The container of the present invention provides the capability ofpreventing the theft of construction plans at construction sites whilesimultaneously making the plans available for use by building inspectorsand construction supervisors at their convenience and withoutprearrangement so as to avoid the aggravation, expense and delaycommonly experienced in obtaining the approval of construction atvarious stages as required by building codes.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the illustrative detailsdisclosed.

Having described by invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A container having controlled access to the interior thereofcomprising a housing enclosing an article receiving compartment with apair of entrance openings communicating therewith, a first closuremounted on the housing for movement to and from a position in sealingrelation to one of said entrance openings, a lock operable by apreselected stimuli mounted on the first closure for controlled lockingengagement with the housing, a second closure secured on the housing formovement to and from a position in sealing relation to the otherentrance opening, and a lock operable by a preselected stimuli mountedon the second closure for controlled locking engagement with thehousing.

2. The container of claim 1 including means borne by the housing forlockably securing said housing on an available structure.

3. A container for use in preventing the theft of blueprints, buildingplans and the like from construction sites while making themindividually available to building inspectors and building supervisorsat their conve nience, the container comprising a mounting assemblyadapted for attachment to an available structure at a construction siteincluding a lock for locking association with the mounting assembly; anelongated tubular housing, having an interior and oppositely facingfirst and second entrance openings, borne by the assembly; a stopfastened on the housing extending into the interior thereof in apredetermined position adjacent to the first entrance opening; a firstdoor mounted on the housing for pivotal movement to and from a positionin covering relation to said first entrance opening; a lock, operable bya preselected key, secured on the first door in a predetermined positionfor operable engagement with the stop; a second door mounted on thehousing for pivotal movement to and from a closed position in coveringrelation to the second entrance opening; a bracket pierced by a lockreceiving passage affixed on the housing adjacent to the second door;and a flange, having a lock receiving passage, borne by the second doorso as to be in facing engagement with the bracket with said passages insubstantial axial alignment when the second door is in the closedposition.

4. A container having controlled access to the inte rior thereofcomprising a housing bounding a chamber and having a pair of openingscommunicating with the chamber, means borne by the housing forindividually lockably sealing and opening said openings in response topreselected stimuli, and means borne by the housing for lockablysecuring said housing on a supporting structure.

5. The container of claim 4 wheren the sealing and opening means has apair of locks individually responsive to separate preselected stimuliindividually to seal and open said openings.

6. A container comprising a housing having a compartment and a pair ofentrance openings communicating with the compartment, a pair of closuresmounted on the housing for movement to and from positions in individualsealing relation to the entrance openings, and a pair of locksindividually operable by preselected stimuli for locking interconnectionof the housing and the closures.

7. The container of claim 6 including means borne by the housing forlockably securing said housing on a mounting structure.

Page 1 of 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 3 ,927, 792 Dated December 23, 1975 Eugene J. Andrade Inventor(s) Itis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[76] Inventors:

Delete "Eugen J. Andrade, 7511 W. Doverwood Ave.,

Fresno, Calif. 93705; Eugene J. Andrade, 1511 W. Doverwood Ave."

Insert Eugene J. Andrade, 1511 W. Dovewood Ave.,

Fresno, California 93705 Column 1, Line 41,

Delete "times", Insert time Column 2, Line 16,

Delete "combinations", Insert combination Column 3, Line 60,

After "position" delete Insert Page 2 of 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Pa N 3,927,792 Dated December 23, 1975Invent0r(s) Eugene Andrade It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 4, Line 25,

Delete "moutned", Insert mounted Column 4, Line 27,

Delete "simple", Insert simply Column 5, Line 39,

Delete by", Ins rt my Signed and Scaled this Arrest.

RUTH C. MASON Arresting 0 m RSHALL DANN nmnussinmr oj'Pa tents andTrademarks

1. A container having controlled access to the interior thereofcomprising a housing enclosing an article receiving compartment with apair of entrance openings communicating therewith, a first closuremounted on the housing for movement to and from a position in sealingrelation to one of said entrance openings, a lock operable by apreselected stimuli mounted on the first closure for controlled lockingengagement with the housing, a second closure secured on the housing formovement to and from a position in sealing relation to the otherentrance opening, and a lock operable by a preselected stimuli mountedon the second closure for controlled locking engagement with thehousing.
 2. The container of claim 1 including means borne by thehousing for lockably securing said housing on an available structure. 3.A container for use in preventing the theft of blueprints, buildingplans and the like from construction sites while making themindividually available to building inspectors and building supervisorsat their convenience, the container comprising a mounting assemblyadapted for attachment to an available structure at a construction siteincluding a lock for locking association with the mounting assembly; anelongated tubular housing, having an interior and oppositely facingfirst and second entrance openings, borne by the assembly; a stopfastened on the housing extending into the interior thereof in apredetermined position adjacent to the first entrance opening; a firstdoor mounted on the housing for pivotal movement to and from a positionin covering relation to said first entrance opening; a lock, operable bya preselected key, secured on the first door in a predetermined positionfor operable engagement with the stop; a second door mounted on thehousing for pivotal movement to and from a closed position in coveringrelation to the second entrance opening; a bracket pierced by a lockreceiving passage affixed on the housing adjacent to the second door;and a flange, having a lock receiving passage, borne by the second doorso as to be in facing engagement with the bracket with said passages insubstantial axial alignment when the second door is in the closedposition.
 4. A container having controlled access to the interiorthereof comprising a housing bounding a chamber and having a pair ofopenings communicating with the chamber, means borne by the housing forindividually lockably sealing and opening said openings in response topreselected stimuli, and means borne by the housing for lockablysecuring said housing on a supporting structure.
 5. The container ofclaim 4 wheren the sealing and opening means has a pair of locksindividually responsive to separate preselected stimuli individually toseal and open said openings.
 6. A container comprising a housing havinga compartment and a pair of entrance openings communicating with thecompartment, a pair of closures mounted on the housing for movement toand from positions in individual sealing relation to the entranceopenings, and a pair of locks individually operable by preselectedstimuli for locking interconnection of the housing and the closures. 7.The container of claim 6 including means borne by the housing forlockably securing said housing on a mounting structure.